Board of Architectural Review
Summary
The Board of Architectural Review (BAR) is a standing municipal body in Fairfax City that reviews architectural and landscaping proposals, issues certificates of appropriateness, and participates in major development review processes alongside the Planning Commission and City Council. The Planning Commission maintains a designated liaison representative to the BAR, a position that has rotated over the tracked period: Commissioner Kevin Denton was formally appointed liaison on 2025-01-13 (7:0), replacing an informal reporting role he had held since at least November 2024. In October 2025, Chair Feather was appointed to replace Denton through December 31, 2025 (4:0), and was then formally reappointed for 2026 on 2026-01-12 (5:0). On the membership side, the City Council reappointed Sucha Khamsuwan (Architect and Business Representative, term through June 13, 2029) on 2026-07-28, and on 2026-09-08 reappointed Heather Waye and newly appointed Riddhi Sanghvi. The BAR has been actively engaged in several major development applications in 2026, including work sessions and public hearings on projects such as Highlands at Mantua and the Courthouse Plaza redevelopment proposal, with its feedback on architecture, landscaping, sidewalk width, color schemes, and building articulation shaping those applications' trajectories.
Open questions & options on the table
- The BAR's public hearings on the Courthouse Plaza redevelopment (10300 Willard Way / 3922 Blenheim Boulevard) are scheduled as a next step following plan resubmission and staff review, but no date has been set.
- The Highlands at Mantua public hearing before City Council is scheduled for September 22, 2026, with the BAR having already recommended approval on July 16, 2025; the Council's final action is still pending.
- BAR meetings in July 2026 were both canceled and no further meeting date before the August recess was specified; the next BAR meeting date is unconfirmed.
- Planning Commission representative appointments to the BAR for 2027 have not yet been addressed in the record.
What members have said
Feather has served as Planning Commission liaison to the BAR since October 2025 and has provided BAR updates at multiple meetings (November 2024 via Denton, then directly from November 2025 onward). In a June 2026 work session, Feather commented favorably on a development applicant's incorporation of red brick and discussed the BAR's interest in mixing 'the ancient and the modern,' while explicitly declining to predict how the BAR would rule. On July 13, 2026, Feather reported that both BAR meetings in July had been canceled and there was nothing to report.
Denton served as the Planning Commission's liaison to the BAR beginning no later than November 2024, providing updates at the November 2024 meeting. He was formally elected to the role on January 13, 2025 (7:0), but was replaced by Chair Feather in October 2025.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.
Full history
[11] Commissioner Denton updated the Planning Commission on the latest information from the Board of Architectural Review.
[5b] Kevin Denton was appointed as the planning commission representative to the Board of Architectural Review.
passedElection of Anthony Coleman as planning commission representative to the Façade Interior Improvement ProgrampassedElection of Matthew Rice as planning commission representative to the Parks and Recreation Advisory BoardpassedElection of Kevin Denton as planning commission representative to the Board of Architectural Review[5a] The Planning Commission appointed Chair Feather as its representative to the Board of Architectural Review for the remainder of 2025.
passedMotion to appoint Chair Feather as the Planning Commission representative to the Board of Architectural Review through December 31, 2025.✓ Rice✓ McCarthy✓ Briggs✓ Feather· Cunningham· Lockhart[11] Chair Feather updated the Planning Commission on the latest information from the Board of Architectural Review.
[5b] Chair Feather was appointed as the Planning Commission's representative to the Board of Architectural Review.
passedAppointment of Chair Feather as Planning Commission representative to the Board of Architectural Review.passedReappointment of Mr. Rice as Planning Commission representative to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.[10] Chair Feather provided an update on the latest information from the Board of Architectural Review.
[10] Chair Feather updated the Planning Commission on the latest information from the Board of Architectural Review.
[6a] A Board of Architectural Review staff report (Attachment 9) was included in the Highlands at Mantua public hearing materials, as the site retains the Architectural Control Overlay District.
[7] Sucha Khamsuwan was reappointed as the Architect and Business Representative for a three-year term extending through June 13, 2029.
passedApproval of board, commission, and advisory committee appointments.[7] Heather Waye was reappointed and Riddhi Sanghvi was newly appointed to the Board of Architectural Review.
passedApproval of all board, commission, and advisory committee appointments.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.